French husband loves to eat. I was taught that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. It stands to reason that we’d make a good team. Except he eats so fast. His plate is cleared-off before I’ve taken my first bite. Honestly, he shatters the French image of proper dining etiquette. He borderlines abnormal in this department. I’ve often wondered why he doesn’t enter a food eating contest.
To slow down his rapid hand-to-mouth feeding, I ask him simple non-threatening questions. (Non-threatening because he could blow food chunks!) Questions such as, "What are you eating?"
Last night was no exception. I made curry lentils in a coconut sauce. I asked French husband if he could define the flavors he was inhaling? Barely coming up for air he answered, "Brown and good!"
"Really," I continued, "I haven’t seen brown and good in the market place. Seriously, Honey what is the flavor of brown and good?"
He guessed cinnamon.
French husband knew if he wanted seconds he had to appease the cook. He said the dinner tasted like bananas mixed with little grainy things and chopped white stuff. Adding there were hints of chocolate, eggs and tomatoes. He almost described a cake until he said tomatoes.
I gave enough clues that the fish in the pond could’ve given me the answer.
I said, "It is white." Yann chipped in with, "White Chocolate!" Not acknowledging that response I continued, "It grows on a tree." Yann said, "Mais oui, bananas!"
You’re probably thinking he is being funny, that he’s pretending to be food illiterate. Trust me he is not kidding. He claimed to our baker friend that mustard would be a sweet flavor to add to brownies.
Looking at him I shook my head, "Remember your children are listening."
One last clue. "It starts with the letter "C" and it is hard."
French husband didn’t miss a beat. He looked at me with a twinkle in his eye. I smirked, "Don’t even say Corey, or you will be eating rocks tomorrow for dinner!"
French husband does love my cooking. Actually that doesn’t sound like a compliment anymore. I’ll let you know what he thinks of rock souffle.
Photos: Of a French vintage journal about love, food and homemaking.
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